Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Ohio Voters Reject Legalizing Marijuana For Medical, Recreational Use

The rejected ballot initiative was more controversial than pot legalization efforts in other states because it would have essentially written a marijuana oligopoly into Ohio's constitution benefiting the investors backing the measure. Supporters pledge to try again.

USA Today/Cincinnati Enquirer:
Ohio Voters Say No To Legalizing Marijuana
Unofficial election results found that the proposed constitutional amendment, known as Issue 3, was defeated 65.1% to 34.8%. Voters did write into the Ohio Constitution a provision known has Issue 2 that prohibits the establishment of a “monopoly, oligopoly or cartel” in the state’s founding document. The ballot issue, which the state legislature wrote expressly to defeat the marijuana language, passed 52.6% to 47.4%. (SAker, 11/3)

The Associated Press:
Ohio Votes Down Legalizing Pot For Medical, Recreational Use
Failure of the proposed state constitutional amendment followed an expensive campaign, a legal fight over its ballot wording, an investigation into petition signatures — and, predominantly, a counter campaign against a network of 10 exclusive growing sites it would have created. It was the only marijuana legalization question on the 2015 statewide ballots. About 65 percent of voters opposed the measure, compared to 35 percent in favor. (Smyth, 11/4)

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